Director, Category Management - Enterprise Food & Beverage

Overview

The Director of Category Management for Enterprise Food & Beverage is responsible for leading the development of category strategies and plans across food & beverage concepts and programs through cohesive collaboration and communication. This role involves staying ahead of industry trends, fostering creativity, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional dining experiences while aligning with the organization's brand and business goals.

As a Food & Beverage Leader across Murphy USA QuickChek, you will be at the forefront of shaping a core part of our entire business. This role blends creativity with strategic leadership with operational & financial acumen.

The successful candidate will possess both a strategic and execution mindset, able to be a hands-on leader with his/her team. This individual should possess great attention to detail, high energy, agility, and sound business/ operational skills. This individual will be able to operate in a flexible, fast-paced environment that is highly collaborative and team oriented.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in category management, preferably in the food and beverage industry, with a proven track record of developing and implementing successful category strategies.

This position offers a competitive salary, performance-based bonuses, and opportunities for professional development in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

This is a senior role in the organization with high visibility and opportunity for growth.

This role can either be based in the QuickChek Support Center in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey or the Murphy USA Home Office in El Dorado, Arkansas.

Some benefits for this role include:

• 401(k) dollar-for-dollar matching up to 6%, as well as a 3% Annual Retirement Contribution from the Company (Matching vests immediately, ARC after 3 years)

• Annual STI (Short-Term Incentive/Bonus) based on company and individual performance

• Health, Dental, Vision insurance

• Company-paid Life Insurance, with supplemental insurance options available

Responsibilities

• Act as an Enterprise leader, with the ability to collaborate across teams/functions

• Develop and execute a comprehensive food & beverage category strategy that aligns with the company's overall objectives and enhances our Food & Beverage offer

• Identify emerging trends, market opportunities, and consumer preferences to guide Food & Beverage menu development and beverage programs

• Offer input into Food & Beverage equipment and tests, to deliver the Food & Beverage offer and an excellent customer experience

• Partner with peers and leadership to create annual strategic plans and innovation pipelines

• Work with existing supplier base and potential / new suppliers to understand culinary trends, drive rapid ideation and prototyping, and manage the development of new products and new ingredients.

• Recommend improvements to current menu offerings and adaptation of menu items for different dayparts, markets, customers, etc.

• Manage special projects as needed including potential adjustments to existing product builds product procedures and the development of specialized menu items.

• Develop a robust KPI & ROI based approach towards category strategy and plans

• Provide support during marketing production and photography shoots, working with food stylists to provide finished product ahead of new product launches

• Foster relationships with vendors to achieve better pricing and quality of services

• Collaborate closely with F&B Enablement, Marketing, and other key stakeholders to ensure category plans are executed with excellence as intended

• Be in tune with culinary trends, ingredient innovation, consumer insights on tastes / preferences, and the competitive landscape

• Leverage relevant data and insights, internal & external, to drive forward-looking decision making

• Lead, manage, grow the food & beverage category management team across Murphy USA QuickChek; combination of ‘player & coach’

• Stay updated on food & beverage trends by attending, where necessary, industry events, workshops, and tastings.

• Determine the optimal product mix based on customer demand, market trends, and profitability – including developing pricing strategies aligned with market conditions and company objectives

• Introduce and expand new items based on store and customer segments

• Act as a business partner to the VP of Enterprise Food & Beverage

• Expect to travel ~50% of the time across the USA

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of full-time experience, strongly preferred in the quick service restaurant ("QSR"), convenience store, food & beverage, and/or multi-unit retail industry across culinary, marketing & innovation, business development, and/or equivalent functions

• A track record of developing strong cross-functional partnerships to deliver results

• Knowledge of the US food & beverage industry

• Excellent written/verbal communication and presentation skills with the ability to create & convey presentations to senior management

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite of products (PowerPoint, Word, Excel)

• Proven experience in persuading others through the use of sound logic and data/insights

• High energy with an ownership-mindset and a bias for execution results

• An agile, continuous improvement mindset with a strong desire to learn

• Proactive, with an ability to see things through from start to finish

• Excellent analytical and organizational skills, and a personal reputation for honesty & integrity

• Self-aware, humble, and willing to be a player-coach in a fast-growing part of the business

Education

• A four-year college degree is required; MBA preferred